Chapter One Hundred and Eleven

  The world was silent, and all that could be seen was a vast expanse of snow-white. A sharp pain suddenly shot through her foot, and the pale-faced woman slowly opened her eyes. After a brief daze, she saw a pure white animal with its mouth open wide, revealing bloody teeth, biting down hard on her ankle!

  His body reacted before his mind did, and he instantly drew out the willow-leaf flying dagger from his waist and shot it fiercely towards that small white beast.

  A loud, mournful cry, the flying knife fiercely stabbed into the small beast's abdomen. The snow-white, dog-like animal instantly fell to one side, whimpering twice, seemingly puzzled by this person who had suddenly come back to life. However, it was still fearful and circled Qing Xia twice, letting out two angry cries, as if making some sort of decision. Suddenly, the small beast let out a sharp cry and ran off into the distance!

  Qing Xia let out a sigh of relief, thinking that in such a cold environment, he had already frozen himself to the point where he wouldn't have been able to take down that small beast with just one knife. These wild animals were always cunning, and if they managed to escape and come back for revenge, Qing Xia would really be in big trouble.

  But if it hadn't been for the fact that it came to bite me, I might have frozen to death in this vast snowy expanse.

  Qing Xia comforted herself, slowly standing up and looking around at her surroundings.

  It seems that the battle between the two armies, especially the use of catapults, triggered a landslide.

  In this era, the White Deer Plain and the Yellow Earth Plateau in Qing Xia's memory have undergone tremendous changes. During her time with the Western Sichuan Grain Transport Team, she discovered that all the emperors of this era were remarkably farsighted in paying attention to environmental protection, which is truly a miracle. Here, all agricultural development and wood harvesting are carried out within limits, so there is not even a hint of soil erosion. The future Yellow Earth Plateau, with its thousands of valleys and gullies, has become a lush and verdant plain.

  The Bai Lu Yuan area, due to its unique geographical structure, has formed a perennially frozen land surface that is quite fragile. So, after suffering a large-scale impact, the snowfield cracked and brought down the permafrost layer, causing it to split open with such a huge mouth, swallowing her in. It's really a rare misfortune that occurs once in a hundred years.

  I don't know how deep it fell, looking up with my head raised, it's just a gray and white shadow, can't see the sky at all. All around is vast white snow, the ditch on top that I saw earlier was only two or three meters wide, but below it's very broad, about thirty to forty meters, extremely narrow and winding on both sides, can't see the edge at a glance.

  When she fell, the snow on both sides of the ditch must have collapsed together, and she was lucky to have escaped without being killed. She looked around and saw a long trail in the snow, pointing to a messy pile of snow. Qing Xia suddenly realized that she had been buried under the snow, and the white beast must have smelled her scent and pulled her out of the snow with great effort. Just as she was about to eat a big meal, she bit herself awake and even got stabbed, what bad luck!

  That little thing looks no bigger than a small dog, but I didn't expect it to have such great strength.

  Qīng Xià suddenly felt a little regretful for stabbing it with a knife. After all, it was also its lifesaver.

  At this thought, Qing Xia suddenly froze, and for a moment it was as if a thorn had been violently inserted into her brain. Her face instantly turned pale. She remembered that when she fell down, Chu Li was falling with her. So where was he now?

  Qing Xia suddenly jumped up from the ground and didn't bother to think about anything else. She ran a few steps to the side of the snow pile and started searching with her hands and feet.

  The sunlight in the ravine was very dim, and it might be just afternoon outside, but here it had already completely darkened. About two hours later, Qing Xia stood numbly on the snowy ground, with a vast expanse of icy desolation at the bottom of her heart. She didn't know how long she had been unconscious. However, since her body hadn't frozen stiff, she knew it wasn't too long. Chu Li and herself fell down together, so he shouldn't be far from her, but after searching around an area of over ten meters in diameter, she still found nothing.

  It's impossible to bury it too deep, Qing Xia pressed her temples and forced herself to calm down. At this time, if she was too excited and flustered, it would only speed up the death of both of them.

  The night color gradually enveloped the earth, and the temperature in the air was getting lower and lower. Qing Xia wore only a thin night-traveling clothes last night for convenience, and now the cold wind was howling, constantly blowing on her body and face. She knew that if she continued like this, she would soon freeze to death.

  He pulled out the lighter from his body, and the faint light dispelled a piece of darkness. Qing Xia shivered and hugged her shoulders, slowly walking forward, gradually expanding the search range.

  None, none, nowhere!

  Qing Xia's entire face had already been frozen stiff, she stood in the snowy ground, her feet had lost all sensation from the cold. The wind howling in the deep valley was even colder than outside, Qing Xia had been frozen to the core, but there was still a thread of willpower that was struggling to support her, making her move forward step by step.

  Can't just disappear without a word, can't live with the guilt of him for the rest of my life, even if it's a corpse, I have to dig it up.

  The pale woman's face was resolute, she slowly took a deep breath, pulled out the dagger from her boot, rubbed her hands on her face fiercely, and searched the ground with her eyes, spotting the small beast's fleeing trail at a glance.

  Two people fell down together, it's impossible for one person to suddenly disappear unless they were dragged back into the hole by a small animal.

  Tracking had always been Qing Xia's strong suit, and in this vast snowy terrain, it didn't take long for her to discover the dragging marks. She followed the snow tracks forward, walking for nearly half a day, until she finally saw the beasts' den under the faint light of the fire. Several pairs of green eyes suddenly appeared in the darkness, Qing Xia grasped her dagger with rapt attention, staring at those beasts as she slightly crouched down. Before she could even prepare herself, the beasts charged towards her collectively with a loud howl.

  A sharp cry suddenly rang out in mid-air, and the sharp claws and teeth came towards Qing Xia like a sharp blade. The original stiffness and coldness disappeared instantly, and years of primitive jungle combat experience made her have exquisite combat skills against any wolves and leopards. The petite woman's eyes were sharp, and she listened to the sound and changed her position, suddenly flying up with her feet in a scissor-like shape, clamping down on the neck of a wild beast with a loud crackle. With a twist of her waist, one of the beasts was instantly hung. Another beast let out a mournful cry, opened its big mouth and bit down fiercely, biting Qing Xia's calf. Qing Xia hummed coldly, and a dagger suddenly stabbed downwards, piercing through the small beast's skull, with large amounts of fresh blood splashing out. Qing Xia shook her bitten calf violently, and heard a "ding" sound, as a shattered tooth fell from her calf, originally that beast had bitten onto the knife sheath tied to her calf.

  There were three larger beasts standing beside him, their eyes cold and menacing as they slowly approached the cave. The beasts retreated slowly with Qing Xia's footsteps, seemingly cautious of something. However, just as Qing Xia was about to approach their den, a group of them suddenly attacked, including one with blood on its waist, which was the same one that Qing Xia had injured earlier.

  No time to think about gratitude, Qing Xia muttered a word of offense, her eyebrows and eyes were sharp and cold, her hands held daggers, only to hear the sound of shrill wailing continuously, in an instant, a bloody beast carcass was left on the ground.

  Without any obstacles, Qing Xia lit a fire starter and walked towards the cave in big strides. As she got closer to the cave, the wind sound became smaller, and there was no snow blown up by strong winds. The traces of something being dragged here became more obvious. Since there were living creatures surviving here, it meant that this place wasn't an underground abyss before. It must have been a mountain cave or something like that. Qing Xia shoveled away the blocking snow, and a pitch-black deep mountain cave suddenly appeared in front of her eyes.

  The cave was about half a person tall, and Qing Xia had to stoop as she walked in. The pungent smell of blood suddenly rushed into her nostrils, and the woman's face turned pale. She immediately started running inside the cave. Several pairs of deep green eyes slowly appeared before her eyes, and Qing Xia held out the lamp in her hand to take a look. She saw that there were three young beasts staring at her from a distance, growling and baring their teeth as they threatened her, but they didn't dare to come closer.

  Qing Xia didn't bother with them, seeing no danger, and walked towards the interior. Who knew that just as she took a step, her foot suddenly stepped on something sticky and slightly soft. Qing Xia's eyebrows furrowed, and she bent down to take a closer look by the firelight. Her face instantly turned deathly pale.

  All that can be seen is a blood-stained snow-covered ground, a mangled and disfigured severed hand lying in tatters on the snowy ground, emitting a nauseating stench.

  It was as if a thunderbolt had exploded in her mind, the woman's eyes widened instantly, her breathing gradually quickened, her heartbeat seemed to be drumming, and she stared incredulously at the severed limb, with all the blood in her body turning cold.

  "No way, no way." Qing Xia shook her head and muttered softly: "It's definitely going to be on time, it's definitely going to be on time."

  Like a madman, she stumbled forward, but just after turning a corner, the frail woman suddenly knelt on the ground, her whole body trembling uncontrollably, as if all the thunder in the sky was striking her head at once. She seemed to have been stunned, staring blankly at the scene before her eyes.

  A heart, just that inch by inch cold, littered with corpses, hands and feet have been torn off, half of the skull is gone, the entire face was bitten to a pulp, chest and abdomen were dug open, intestines flowed all over the ground, one leg had been eaten to only expose the white bones, the once renowned Southern Chu Mo armor, was thrown aside like a pile of scrap iron.

  The surroundings were so quiet, with only the faint growling of a few small beasts slowly echoing in the air. The pale woman seemed to have been stunned, sitting alone on the chaotic ground, staring blankly and silently, her eyes fixed and lifeless, as if she was dreaming.

  A loud roar, a small beast suddenly rushed up, and with a sharp cry, it bit into Qing Xia's calf, and fresh blood gushed out, splashing everywhere. The intense pain stimulated the woman, who was stunned, she turned her head back, only to see that the small beast was staring at her with fierce eyes, desperately tearing at her leg flesh. In an instant, a surge of anger and despair swept through her entire nervous system like a bursting dam, she suddenly jumped up, and with one foot, she viciously trampled on the small beast's head.

  The sound of cracking bones continued to echo, Qing Xia was almost mad, she picked up the stones on the ground and smashed them one by one at the corpse of the small beast with all her might. The blood and flesh were blurred, the pulp burst, the other two wild beasts let out sharp howls, accompanied by the woman's frantic screams, like a group of ghosts wailing in hell, with desperate despair and shattered pain.

  "Kill you! Kill you! Want to kill you!"

  Ferocious eyes stared at the two small beasts cowering in the corner, Qing Xia was like a starving wolf, swiftly drawing out a dagger and grabbing one of the pure white small beasts with lightning-fast speed, stabbing its belly mercilessly. Fresh blood splattered everywhere, accompanied by mournful wails that echoed through this place that had been untouched for thousands or tens of thousands of years. Qing Xia's disheveled hair danced wildly, her eyes were bloodshot, as if she was a demon from hell. The beast quickly lost its original appearance and became an indistinguishable mass of flesh and blood.

  Putting aside the dead beast's corpse, Qing Xia's fierce eyes focused on the last remaining creature. When a person is ruthless, even ghosts would retreat in fear. The small beast was no larger than a full-moon puppy, its entire body trembling non-stop as it desperately squeezed towards the corner of the wall. Its two green, shiny eyes stared at Qing Xia in terror, whimpering softly, with an unstoppable tremble in its voice.

  Qing Xia's hands, stained with blood, slowly reached out to the small beast, like a vengeful spirit seeking revenge, even her eyes were crimson red.

  A sharp wail suddenly rang out, the snow-white small beast in Qing Xia's hands was struggling constantly, a pair of eyes were terrified and desperate, with huge uncontrollable prayers and pleas for survival. Qing Xia's rationality returned instantly, she stared blankly at the little wild animal, her heart as if it had been smashed into powder by a giant hammer.

  A single tear fell, rolling down her blood-stained face like a crystal pearl. She suddenly remembered the Yellow Earth Temple of years ago, where she had also lost all reason in that dark and foul-smelling snake pit. Now time seemed to have reversed itself, but facing Chu Li's broken corpse, would someone rush out to tell her that it was all just a nightmare?

  If it's a nightmare, then let me wake up quickly!

  This dream is too long, I've been struggling and fighting against the heavens, but it seems like fate is intentionally teasing me, piling all the pain and despair onto my body. I always thought that as long as I was strong enough and worked hard enough to get through all the suffering, there would eventually be a day when the storm would pass and the sun would come out again. But now I realize that my entire life is just a puppet with unknown strings attached, performing a script written by others, with no end in sight.

  "A soft whimper suddenly rose, the snow-white little beast stretched out its tender pink tongue and gently licked Qing Xia's hand. Qing Xia was slightly stunned, slowly lowered her head, and the little beast used great force to lift its short neck from Qing Xia's hand, its weak tongue licking Qing Xia's face as if trying to wipe away her tears."

  The painful emotions burst out in an instant, Qing Xia hugged the snow-white little beast tightly and couldn't help but let out a loud cry.

  The pain in her heart is expanding, expanding. She originally thought she hated him, resented him. He was like a high and mighty tyrant, dominating everything about her. Time and time again, he pushed himself to the depths of despair, using a whip with thorns to lash his own heart into pieces. He never believed in himself, doubting himself repeatedly, disappointing himself repeatedly, using that cold and stern gaze to whip her self-esteem, her rebelliousness. Those harsh words, those ruthless phrases, were like bullets, shooting him full of holes, bloody and battered.

  But at this moment she realized that they were just a double-edged sword, and he was bleeding himself while stabbing her with the other end.

  She always goes to blame him for his contempt for her, his indifference to her, and his distrust of her. But Ima, have you ever had a shred of trust in him? From start to finish, have you ever believed in this man who tore away your dignity, tore away your pride, and lived and died for you?

  The pain is spreading wildly, but Qing Xia knew that even if she died from the pain, that man would not stand up again, open his eyes, and quarrel with her, hit her, or scold her.

  He's already dead, lying in the cold snowy ground, torn into pieces and devoured by beasts, not even a whole corpse left!

  I hate you so much, I hate your arrogance and carelessness, I hate your selfishness and coldness, I hate your suspicion, your cruelty, I hate that you never told me what you thought. But I never wanted you to die, I didn't want to see you lying on the ground without any energy, even if you got up to scold me, even if you continued to fight with me, even if you looked at me with that sarcastic and cold gaze. From now on, in this world, there will no longer be someone who dares to argue and fight with me, making my face red and my neck thick from shouting.

  Chu Li, you said it before, from now on, whether in heaven or hell, I won't be able to escape your side. But now that I'm sitting right next to you, why are you lying there motionless? I thought you were strong enough, I thought you would keep your promise, I thought this wicked man would shamelessly entangle me for a lifetime. But now you're just lying in front of me like this, and I can't even gather up your corpse, I couldn't even find your other hand. Chu Li, it's so cold here, everywhere is icy snow, everywhere is raging wind, how am I supposed to live on? In the days to come, carrying my guilt and debt towards you, how am I supposed to live on?

  You damn fool! You madman! Why did you have to follow me down here? Why did you have to land me in this desperate plight?

  A shrill, mournful cry burst from the woman's mouth as she wildly wailed, clutching the small beast that had just been exterminated by her, sitting amidst a scene of utter carnage and corpses, crying out in mad despair.

  A fierce wind howled outside the cave, and it seemed like an illusion. A faint voice suddenly echoed in her ear, Qing Xia abruptly lifted her head, Chu Li, is that you back?

  She rushed to the side of the broken corpse, at a loss for what to do with her hands and feet, finally embracing the body that had long been torn apart. Tears rolled down onto the corpse as she let out a mad wail.

  "Chu Li, have you come back? Wake up! Wake up!"

  A small white beast was biting her clothes non-stop from behind, as if sensing some danger, whimpering in terror. But Qing Xia could no longer hear anything around her, the huge blow had already blurred her consciousness, she seemed to hear someone shouting her name in the distant wind, her eyes gleamed with light, shaking the corpse violently, calling out loudly: "Chu Li, wake up!"

  The dim entrance suddenly turned pitch black, as if something had blocked out the faint light from outside.

  "Qīng xià?" A low, disbelieving voice sounded from behind, and the woman who was crying out in pain was as if struck by lightning, standing there in stunned disbelief.

  "Qīng xià?" The voice grew louder, with a hint of irrepressible delight.

  Qing Xia was like a wooden puppet, she slowly and mechanically turned her head back, her body almost trembling.

  Chu Li wore a suit of dark-colored armor, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. His face was as white as jade, and he stood at the entrance of the cave, shining like a radiant temple.

  Qing Xia was almost stunned, she gazed at the blood-soaked corpse in her arms as if in a nightmare, then lifted her head to look at the man standing at the entrance of the cave, her mouth agape in shock.

  "Qing Xia!" A low, suppressed voice suddenly rang out, a fierce gust of cold wind swept through the body, Chu Li's arms were hard and strong, he rushed forward, tightly embracing Qing Xia in his arms!

  "Chu Li?"

  Qing Xia's voice was so soft, her head hurt so much, it felt like something inside was constantly exploding. She rested her head on Chu Li's shoulder and asked him softly, as if she were also asking herself.

  "Am I dreaming?"

  A strong wind howls, white snow swirls, and the sky is pitch black.